What’s Disney’s Pop Century Resort?

Impressed by common cultural references from iconic a long time, the Pop Century Resort options decade-themed buildings and decor to move company to a different time. Whenever you stroll previous the large POP entrance signal and into the foyer of this resort, you may discover period-specific pictures, akin to black-and-white prints from the Nineteen Fifties, in addition to trendy cultural artifacts, like a Energy Ranger figurine and a Nintendo Sport Boy from the Nineties, in show circumstances alongside the partitions.

The Pop Century Resort isn’t meant to be a refined nod to the previous however fairly leans right into a playful and caricature-esque look. Whereas strolling the property, you may see sock-hop dancers because the backdrop for the Nineteen Fifties-themed buildings.

For the ’60s- and ’70s-themed buildings, you may see colourful flowers and large Duncan Imperial yo-yos. As for the ’80s and ’90s, Sony’s Walkman and the pc take heart stage as the skin decor.

With visible references to the previous at each flip — and enjoyable popular culture info adorning the walkways — the Pop Century Resort is a time capsule for households and company of any age to uncover throughout their keep.

The best way to e-book Disney’s Pop Century Resort

Simple check-in and checkout course of

As with every Disney lodge, you’ll be able to verify in and take a look at utilizing the My Disney Expertise app. When pulling as much as the resort, I checked in on my cell system and was advised that I’d obtain a notification when my room was prepared. If you wish to head to the parks, you’ll be able to drop your baggage off on the baggage desk at Traditional Corridor (freed from cost).

Although my room was not presupposed to be prepared till 3 p.m., I used to be notified through textual content at 1:30 p.m. that I may entry it. The app will let you know your room quantity in addition to offer you a digital key. Sure, you now not have to fret about carrying round a room key. Nevertheless, when my telephone battery was nearly lifeless, I opted to go to the entrance desk to get a key. Word that you could have to face in line on the foyer counter, and it may be an extended line. I waited in line for about 10 minutes and was requested to offer my identify and ID earlier than being given my room key.

When leaving the resort, you may routinely be checked out at 11 a.m.; you may as well sign up to the app and manually verify your self out. I actually like the convenience of the check-in and checkout course of that Disney provides; nevertheless, if you happen to do want to speak to somebody on the entrance desk, it might take a bit if the road is lengthy.

Resort rooms emphasize performance

Although the communal areas on the Pop Century Resort characteristic a heavy dose of nostalgia, the rooms are something however dated. In 2018, Disney’s Pop Century underwent a large renovation of its rooms, including a queen-size Murphy mattress, hardwood flooring and tons of space for storing.

Throughout my keep at Pop Century, I used to be pleasantly shocked by the performance and effectivity of the room design. I booked a room that had two queen beds; I may have opted for a room with one king mattress.

Whenever you stroll in, you may instantly discover a extra smooth and minimalist type — a departure from the flashy decor simply exterior — with wood flooring, a small picket desk and two chairs, and a espresso bar space, which options an in-room fridge and Cuisinart. Different notable in-room facilities embody an Amazon Echo system, a secure, an iron and ironing board, an open closet with hangers, and Disney toiletries (shampoo, conditioner and physique wash).

Whereas the rooms could also be on the smaller facet at lower than 300 sq. toes, the addition of a Murphy mattress is a good possibility for these with a number of individuals of their social gathering, particularly households with youngsters. Not do company must eat breakfast or late-night snacks in mattress or fear about cleansing up unintended spills; the Murphy mattress simply collapses down right into a mattress, or you’ll be able to push it as much as be a desk. It is light-weight and tremendous straightforward to make use of; due to this fact, you do not have to fret about younger youngsters grabbing on the bars and getting damage when the mattress folds down.

Apart from the 2 queen beds, the room options 16 electrical retailers and 10 USB retailers, plus two electrical plugs within the toilet, which is, once more, particularly good for these touring in teams (simply notice that there’s a most of 4 individuals allowed per room), as there are greater than sufficient retailers to plug in everybody’s gadgets.

The toilet options a big self-importance shelf and quite a few storage cubbies for company to simply preserve monitor of their toiletries. I additionally appreciated that there was a door that separated the bathroom and bathe from the self-importance space. Once more, this creates a extra useful area for a number of individuals occupying the small room.

Nevertheless, one area that did appear just a little cramped was the bathe. For these on the taller facet, you could really feel just like the bathe nozzle is true at your face. For instance, I am 5-foot-3 and even I felt just like the bathe may have been a bit wider and taller to comfortably accommodate company of all sizes.

The useful design of Pop Century’s room made it straightforward to retailer my private gadgets, making the room really feel greater. I feel this can be a stable possibility for these eager to spend much less on a Disney lodge room and extra on their park expertise.

Take the bus or Skyliner to Disney parks

As with planning any Disney trip, one of the crucial vital issues to contemplate is how effectively I can get to the parks. If you happen to keep at a Disney resort, the properties provide a bus transportation system, which might take you to all 4 parks, the water parks and Disney Springs. Whereas Epcot and Hollywood Studios are lower than 5 miles from the Pop Century Resort, Magic Kingdom is the furthest park from the lodge. Fortunately, when taking the bus, every bus took lower than 10 minutes to reach on the lodge, and it solely took 17 minutes to get to Disney’s Magic Kingdom. Subsequently, if you happen to’re nervous about staying at a resort that is not inside strolling distance of Magic Kingdom, I would not be.

Household-friendly actions

When staying on Disney property, there isn’t any scarcity of every day actions which are nice for company of all ages. Like different Disney resorts, Pop Century options leisure actions akin to a nightly campfire to construct s’mores (kits can be found to buy at about $6) and “Films Underneath the Stars,” which reveals a basic Disney film each evening at 8:30 p.m. by the principle pool space.

And that is not all — listed here are another notable leisure highlights whereas staying on the Pop Century Resort.

Take pleasure in 3 swimming pools (plus a kiddie pool) and poolside actions

Whether or not you select to slide again into the Sixties on the groovy Hippy Dippy Pool (the principle pool on the resort), take heed to common songs from the ’90s on the Laptop Pool or strike a pose in entrance of the ’50s-inspired Bowling Pool (formed like a bowling pin), the Pop Century has three glimmering swimming pools which are open to its company — regardless of which decade you’ve got checked in to.

Throughout my keep, my room was within the ’90s constructing, so I spent my time on the Laptop Pool, which I most well-liked over the opposite two. The Laptop Pool was much less crowded in comparison with the Hippy Dippy Pool, which is in entrance of Traditional Corridor, the principle constructing on the Pop Century Resort that has the check-in desk, arcade and eating and procuring areas. Since Disney loves to remain on theme, the Laptop Pool performed basic songs from the ’90s, which created enjoyable throwback moments to get pleasure from whereas poolside.

Nevertheless, if you wish to take part in poolside actions, you may have to go to the Hippy Dippy Pool. Beginning at 12:30 p.m., a forged member orchestrates video games, akin to a hula hoop competitors, bingo and extra. This can be a notable perk as a result of if you happen to resolve to skip the park and spend the day on the pool, your youngsters can nonetheless expertise a little bit of Disney magic and be entertained with poolside video games.

Throughout my keep, the swimming pools had been open from 10 a.m. till 11 p.m. every day, although remember the fact that pool hours can range relying on the season.

Arcade and decade-themed video games

Talking of video games, contained in the Traditional Corridor, you may discover the Quick Ahead Arcade, which, in fact, options video video games from completely different eras. To play the video games, you could buy an arcade card and factors; nevertheless, the price of the factors was affordable: $1 will purchase you 50 factors. This arcade is a good possibility as a post-park exercise or if there may be inclement climate stopping you from having fun with the pool.

Whereas of us can benefit from the arcade, there are additionally decade-themed video games you’ll be able to play within the courtyards and by the swimming pools of every constructing. Whenever you stroll previous the ’70s constructing, you may see Tornado, whereas the ’50s pool space has life-size checkers.

Good meals for a good value

Not like at Average or Deluxe Disney properties, you will not discover table-service eating places on the Pop Century. Worth motels have a meals court-style eating space that primarily seems and looks like a cafeteria, and tray tables are included. At Every little thing Pop Eating, you may discover seven service stations with meals gadgets starting from pizza and burgers to salmon on a mattress of orzo. Plus, there’s a grab-and-go part that features gadgets like salads, sandwiches, fruit, pretzels with hummus, ice cream bars, wine and extra.

Whereas there are undoubtedly some hit-or-miss meals gadgets, for probably the most half, the meals was fairly good, particularly for the costs and parts. My favourite menu merchandise was a candy and tangy barbecue pork sandwich with a facet of fries ($10.79 earlier than tax). Although you’ll find related menu gadgets at different Worth motels (i.e., All-Star resorts and Artwork of Animation), the Pop Century has a couple of notable desserts that may solely be discovered at this resort.

Social media appears to rave concerning the Tie-Dye Cheesecake. Sadly, if you happen to’re envisioning a New York Metropolis-style cheesecake, you could want to regulate your expectations. This dessert was undoubtedly colourful, however it was a bit dense and lacked a creamy and flavorful consistency. At greatest, it was a median dessert; due to this fact, I would not attain for it once more. For me, the Flashback Oatmeal Creme Pie took heart stage because the must-get dessert at Pop Century.

Although I preferred the comfort of getting a plethora of meals and snack gadgets to select from, lunch and dinner menu gadgets didn’t change day-to-day, and the specials didn’t rotate every day both. Throughout my subsequent keep on the Pop Century, I’d skip breakfast and as a substitute go for a fast grab-and-go yogurt and fruit or simply eat on the parks. The hefty breakfast platters, which characteristic a restricted menu of things like Mickey-shaped waffles or pancakes, scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage and tater tots, had been a bit bland and dear (round $13 earlier than tax). I might a lot fairly seize a cinnamon roll at Gaston’s Tavern in Magic Kingdom.

The eating space is open from 7 a.m. till 11 p.m. every day, so even if you happen to return from the parks hungry, you’ll be able to at all times decide to seize a late-night snack or ice cream sundae. Subsequently, the cafeteria-style eating space is all about comfort; it is not an elevated eating expertise by any means, however it will get the job accomplished.

Accessibility

As with all Disney resorts, Pop Century has accessible rooms that company can request when reserving; you should definitely click on on “Accessible Rooms” when reserving your lodge keep on Disney’s web site.

Accessible rooms characteristic seize bars at the bathroom, an open mattress body, decrease rest room peak and an accessible transportable raised rest room seat. A wheelchair-accessible room additionally comes with seize bars within the bathe. All accessible rooms have elective communication options for company with listening to disabilities, together with a visible alarm, visible door knock/doorbell alert and phone with quantity management.

Apart from the rooms, Pop Century’s strolling paths and public areas are wheelchair-accessible, and wheelchair-friendly elevators can be found across the property. There are additionally self-service lifts at every of the three swimming pools.

Why Disney’s Pop Century Resort is probably not for you

Whereas Disney’s Pop Century Resort could emphasize performance, the resort is huge, which implies it might require you to do a little bit of strolling to get out of your room to the eating space and different amenities. Since I paid for the standard room, my room within the ’90s-themed constructing ignored the parking space. I used to be at one of many furthest factors from Traditional Corridor; it was a couple of 10- to 12-minute stroll from my room to the eating space and Hippy Dippy Pool.

If you wish to be near Skyliner or amenity areas, as I discussed, you are going to must pay more cash for a “most well-liked” room. When reserving your lodge keep, do not forget that the prime decade — on the heart of the motion — is the ’60s-themed buildings.

The Pop Century Resort undoubtedly appears to prioritize enjoyable and kid-friendly actions; due to this fact, numerous households and children keep at this lodge. If you happen to’re on the lookout for a extra stress-free and quiet Disney expertise, a spot to flee the crowded parks, staying at this resort is probably not for you. Plus, this resort (in addition to the All-Star resorts) is a well-liked lodge possibility for highschool area journeys and sports activities competitions (resulting from its proximity to ESPN’s Large World of Sports activities).

If you would like extra facilities and larger rooms, in addition to table-service eating places and lounges — and do not thoughts spending about $40 additional per evening — Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort is a good Average various.

Disney’s Pop Century Resort vs. All-Star Resorts

After Pop Century underwent its 2018 renovation, this Worth resort was once favored closely over the All-Star resorts (i.e., Sports activities, Music and Films). Nevertheless, the All-Star resorts went via a refurbishment up to now couple of years and have the same in-room design type. When evaluating the costs of the All-Star resorts with Pop Century, the latter is about $50 costlier per evening for the standard room. If you wish to get monetary savings in your Disney lodge room, you could want the All-Star resorts.

I want the Pop Century over the All-Star resorts due to the a number of modes of transportation (bus and Disney Skyliner) to the parks, in addition to the truth that I haven’t got to share a bus and make stops in any respect three All-Star properties. Total, I proceed to worth the effectivity of Pop Century greater than the All-Star resorts.

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